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Scrappy's Firewater Bitters, 5 oz. Bottle
- 5 oz. Capacity (147ml)
- Hand crafted
- Essence of habanero, extremely spicy
- 44.3% alcohol by volume
When you need to spice up a cocktail, the essences of habanero are a great way to get it started. This new product from Scrappy's Bitters is dubbed "fire water" for a reason, it tastes like fire in your mouth. Habanero peppers are hot and Scrappy's Firewater is just as hot! You'll find a rich and spicy heat that spreads across your palate extremely efficiently leaving a warm tongue and hot lips.
Warning: Extremely spicy, use sparingly. Avoid contact with eyes. Keep out of reach of children.
alcohol, distilled water, habanero, organic herbs and spices


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Opportunity knocks, but Buccaneers stub their fingers
Gary Shelton,
The St.Petersburg Times
, published 6 December 2010
The game was in hand, and all possibilities were alive. In those moments before it all turned sour, excellence had returned to the Tampa Bay Bucs. And then it was gone again.
The division was still winnable, and the playoffs seemed probable. In that brief snapshot of time, before it all went wrong, you could finally believe in the turnaround of a team. And then it vanished once more.
To fully understand all the Bucs lost this time, to really understand all they left unclaimed, you have to roll the tape back to early in the fourth quarter of Sunday night's game against the Atlanta Falcons. You have to grasp the feeling of the moment as the Bucs took a 24-14 lead and, for the briefest of times, looked as legitimate as at any point this season.
With 10 minutes to play, just before the darkness arrived, the Bucs finally looked like a contender. The team that hadn't beaten anyone good was two scores ahead of the best team in the NFC, and the team that led the league in doubts seemed to have won over the crowd once more.
And just like that, it was easy to not only imagine the Bucs in the playoffs but imagine them succeeding once they arrived. For the briefest of moments, the Bucs looked as if they were going to win a football game, and a very large portion of credibility along with it.
Then they collapsed. And in the rubble, everything the Bucs seemed ready to claim was squandered.
The Bucs blew their lead, and their opportunity, and their validation, in a 28-24 game that must have felt like a stake to the heart. From here, the season looks uphill again. From here, the playoffs seem far away. From here, the Bucs still look like a team that has improved, but not nearly enough.
A dozen times, in a dozen ways, over a dozen plays, this one slipped away. In the days to come, and perhaps in the offseason that will follow, these plays will return to the Bucs in their nightmares.
"That was the worst (loss) this year," linebacker Barrett Ruud said. "You think about the opponent and how important it was. We had the victory in our hands. We let it slip away. There were a lot of things we could have done to win."
For instance: • The Bucs held a 10-point lead, and they were not ruthless enough to make it stand.
• They had a half-dozen shots as Eric Weems returned a kickoff 102 yards, and they were not efficient enough to stop him.
• They forced the Falcons into a third and 20 on Atlanta's winning drive, and they were not poised enough to get off the field.
• Even after surrendering the lead, they had enough time and enough field position to pull off another fourth-quarter comeback of their own, and they were not special enough to finish it off.
More than anything, the Bucs simply didn't look ripe enough to win this game. They did not look accomplished enough to stop the Falcons when it counted most, or deep enough to overcome their injuries, or mature enough to reclaim momentum as it slipped away. In the end, they could not stop the avalanche that buried them.
"At some point, you have to stop using the excuse of being young," Bucs coach Raheem Morris said. "At some point, it is just an excuse, and we are not prepared to make (excuses). We can't wait until we're veterans to close out games. We have to do it the next four weeks."
For a football team, it is a good thing not to embrace the available excuses. There have been a lot of coaches, and some of them worked around here, who would have passed out X-rays and photocopies of birth certificates in an effort to make excuses. They would have talked about how they didn't want to make excuses, and then they would have spent a half-hour listing them.
That said, the Bucs are young, and they do need some more growing up. Sunday's finish seemed like a perfect example.
Yes, the kickoff return hurt; on the other hand, the Bucs still led by three. Yes, the third-and-20 completion to Roddy White was a killer, but the Falcons still had to drive 52 yards (and convert two other third downs) to take the lead. Yes, the Bucs scored 24 points, but they also failed to pick up a third and 1 in Atlanta territory and kicked a field goal on another fourth and 1.
In other words, the Bucs spent the last 10 minutes of the game looking, once again, like Someday's Team. That said, a 10-point lead should be enough. A key stop isn't too much to ask.
What did the Bucs lose on Sunday? The answer is in what they would have won had they held on. Think about that. The Bucs would have been 8-4 with four games to play, and they would have had their biggest victory of the year, and they still would have been in the NFC South race. They would have erased questions. They would have added believers.
At 7-5, it's a little harder to see any of that. The Bucs still have possibilities, but they need to do a lot of winning over the next month. Sunday, they did not know how to close out a game. After this, they must find a way to close out a season.

subset: commoncrawl


text: By volunteering for the student mentoring program, you can provide current students with the opportunity to learn from your experience and expertise as they explore different career-related issues, such as choosing specialties, postgraduate training, work/life balance, and more. Einstein's alumni network can fill an important need for students by providing access to professionals with a broad range of specialties, experience, geographic locations, and a strong commitment to the Einstein community. To sign up to be a mentor, please use the 'Alumni Mentoring Profile form above, or email firstname.lastname@example.com with your name, the year you graduated from Einstein, and your preferred email address, and please write "Student Mentoring Program" as the subject line of your email. You will then receive a brief survey to complete, which will provide students with your contact information along with the information they need in order to learn more about you as a mentor. Einstein will be monitoring the progress of the student mentoring program to ensure that students have the best mentoring opportunities possible. While we cannot be sure at this time when (or if) potential mentors will be contacted by Einstein students, your interest in participating is greatly appreciated.If you have any questions about the student mentoring program or the Alumni Association, please call 718-430-2013 or email firstname.lastname@example.com you to all Einstein alumni for helping to strengthen the Einstein community and help our students!


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ESSAY- Footprints, indeed: Why we can't innovate away our carbon
The architect speaking at UVA showed illustrations of buildings with three-deep, metal skins. Those moving screens, he envisioned, will soon track the sun across the sky and maximize light while minimizing heat.
As I think "biomimicry"– or the process of adapting nature's lessons to decrease man's ecological footprint– is a great concept, I listened closely. Computer controlled, the millions of screens on a multi-story building, the architect said, will shift on tracks to maximize efficiency and minimize power bills over 40 or 50 years. His slides indicated a beautiful, cheaper, future.
Then it hit me. Every sliding screen door I've ever seen has jammed or fallen off the track at least once a week. Every car and every bicycle at my house needs regular maintenance to stay on the road. I've seen solid steel shattered by a couple kids on a bender, and the technicians need to clean my computer every month or the bugs will strangle it.
How much would it cost to maintain millions of computer-controlled, constantly-sliding screens hundreds of feet up the side of a building? Even if nature didn't throw rain, sleet; and hail around; and even if birds don't find perfect nesting sites in the tangles of wires.
Yet again another technological "fix" for our consumption of carbon fuels bites the practical dust. Americans, no matter how much we try, can't seem to innovate our way out of our carbon consumption issues.
Transportation thinkers note that "technological traps" inevitably fail to decrease the 1,958 million metric tons of greenhouse gases American transportation emits into the atmosphere annually; but we, the people, never stop trying.
Increases in Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards, for example, actually make pollution worse because more efficient vehicles promote more driving and overwhelm the efficiency gains. Pouring corn alcohol into gasoline to create a biofuel decreases fuel economy, causes food shortages, and offers nothing to the family farm. Hydrogen stations aren't available on any American street corner. And no matter how many bird-whacking windmills we put up, wind energy doesn't translate into auto fuel.
Now that Nissan is using its Japanese test market to subsidize electric car sales in America– and undercut GM's Volt– the latest buzz is electric vehicles. Even if the Volt is ever built commercially, it will be constructed in Mexico while the Nissan assembly lines are in Asia despite, or thanks to, a $7,500 subsidy by American taxpayers. And, according to research by the Boston Consulting Group, gasoline taxes would need to rise 210 percent or oil prices climb to $375 a barrel to make an all-electric car an economical purchase.
Meanwhile, deep-water drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, plus shallower fields off the East Coast, are being touted as the route to American energy independence. But those deepwater rigs are floating in seven thousand feet of sea water, held in place by gyroscopes and computers. At some point– probably during a hurricane– there will a twist-off and a blow out will erupt, spewing oil from a depth that only one or two submersibles on the planet are even capable of reaching.
Like the moving metal building skins reported by the architect at UVA, the technology for deepwater drilling is breathtaking, but it's a little irrational to suppose that the technology will never fail. That maintenance schedules will always be upheld. That some defective part won't get through the inspection system. That every employee will be perfectly trained and always alert.
There are, after all, regular oil spills from the conventional oil platforms like the ones which might soon dot the Virginia coast.
Even in the super-reliable, "zero defect" space program– as we all unfortunately know– SNAFUs inevitably happen.
At some point in time, we Americans have got to come to grip with the fact that we use almost twice the carbon per capita than other Western democratic nations and six times as much as our growing economic competitor, China. We've got to realize that we're going to have to bite the bullet. There's no way to innovate away our personal responsibility.
We love to blame industry, but the reality is that it's housing and transportation which are creating the most, and fastest growing, American carbon dioxide emissions. Industry and commerce are indeed already controlling emissions as greenhouse intensity– the ratio of emissions to Gross Domestic Product– has dropped by a quarter since 1990.
This is not to say that we– and our businesses– shouldn't latch onto sustainable innovation, biomimicry or not; but innovation by itself will never solve our problems. Though it's a difficult sell to we self-involved individuals, personal conservation is the key to both decreasing greenhouse emissions and reaching energy independence.
We must turn up the thermostat in the summer, turn off the lights all year and especially walk, bicycle, and take the bus as much as we possibly can. We've got to live closer to where we work and carpool whenever possible.
We've got to become conscious on our carbon consumption and personally do something about it.
A former journalism teacher at Virginia Union University, Randy Salzman is a transportation researcher who penned the story about eBikes in this week's special "Green Home" insert in the Hook..
6 comments
I did not, of course, know that the Deepwater Horizon would catch fire and sink when I wrote this. The Louisiana explosion is releasing, according to one report, 300,000 gallons of crude a day into waters 40 miles south of the mouth of the Mississippi. It is likely this oil slick will yet again damage the Texas coast because much of the Mississippi's sediment washes west.
When I was a kid, living near Galveston Bay, in Texas when we dug down about three feet into the sand at the beach, there was a black layer caused, folklore had it, by WWII when the German U-boats sank tankers left and right as they came out of Houston ship channel just after we got into the war.
It is possible, depending on many factors, that engineers might never be able to cap the oil which is -- apparently -- flowing from deep in the Gulf. If that is the case, the "war" will not end and there might never again be the three feet of clean sand that I played on in the 1960s.
Great essay. Salzman makes a great case for personal responsibility. There is just no substitute. My neighbors could all be environmentally responsible, biking or carpooling to work every day, and I could negate all of their efforts by commuting 40 miles a day to my desk job in a gas guzzling behemoth and leave my computer running all night long.
Technology is important too, of course. I, for one, am still waiting for a more affordable solar panel technology to be developed so I wont have to use electricity made from burning coal. But in the mean time, there are so many things that we can do, that we are not doing, to reduce energy consumption and pollution.
I think that as more people become aware of the impact they have on the earth, attitudes will change. Essays like this help to do that.
Simplicity!!!! A great solution. Really it makes all the sense in the world. The fewer things there are to go wrong, the better. Look at all those lenses on the Arab World Institute. Last time I checked they were no longer working. Commute shorter distances (ie build more compact cities, build simpler well-insulated buildings that respond directly to the climate (think vernacular architecture), eat locally grown food as much as possible, buy recycled things. Simple lessons. I love those buildings with all the layers and moveable screens, too,though, but Randy makes a great observation. What does that metal look like after 20 years, anyway?
And how much pollution is generated to manufacture the silicon chips needed to automate all this biomimicry? Manually operated windows are no longer an option.
Mileage from my 10 year old manual stick shift automobile approaches that of a Prius but I get no tax credits because it is me rather than a computer in control.
For the foreseeable future, the Chevy Volt is essentially a coal powered vehicle.
Randy, you are a very smart man. Or should I say you are able to put the pieces together quite well. It is not a difficult puzzle.
It shocks me that so many cannot see conservation as the solution or probably just don't care enough to try.
But then it also shocks me that a knowlege of seventh grade mathematics could have prevented the demand side of the mortgage meltdown.
Randy, you are a very smart man. Or should I say you are able to put the pieces together quite well. It is not a difficult puzzle.
It shocks me that so many cannot see conservation as the solution or probably just dont care enough to try.
But then it also shocks me that a knowlege of seventh grade mathematics could have prevented the demand side of the mortgage meltdown.


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Continuing our series of Conservation Heroes blogs are Resit Akçakaya, Dr Alexine Keuroghlian and Grahame Webb, whose work focuses on aspects of conservation that are not normally considered to involve cute and cuddly species.
In her blog, Dr Alexine Keuroghlian, a member of the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Species Survival Commission (SSC) Peccary Specialist Group, describes her work to protect the White-lipped Peccary in Brazil where this species is not considered to be cute and cuddly. However, after seeing the photo that accompanies her blog you may disagree.
Grahame Webb, Chair of the IUCN SSC Crocodile Specialist Group, explains the challenges of conserving crocodiles and recalls the risks that scientists took in the 1970s when they under estimated the reaction a crocodile might have when being provoked.
Finally, Resit Akçakaya, Chair of the IUCN Standards and Petitions Subcommittee, describes the science behind maintaining the high standards of The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™.
You will find their blogs along with previous 'Conservation Heroes' blogs at the IUCN Blog.


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There are many schools of thought regarding teaching swimming, some rely on repetitive swimming a lot of kilometers or miles to improve, some swear against it and focus only on certain aspects of technique and others combine both approaches in one way or another. However, none of them are perfect and never will be. The reason being, every person wanting to learn how to swim is different and respond to different stimuli, so one approach to teach all does not work. That said, some basic themes and principles do or should be present in all swim schools and that is to streamline your body as much as possible, in a way that you swim through the water in the path of the least resistance with the least effort.
In my opinion, swimming many laps with wrong technique will not give you much improvement in the long run and might cause you injuries to your
|by merfam
Enough blabber jabber though, let's get to business. We'll first focus on shaping your body to have the least resistance in the water and as simple as this sounds, it will take a lot of repetition and patience on your part until you get it right and it becomes second nature (especially if you have imprinted some bad habits into your swim stroke already). So let's get to the basics:
Head and Body Position:
Contrary to an old-school belief, the waterline should NOT be on the line where your hair meets your forehead and your eyes should NOT be watching what is in front of you (assuming you are on your belly). Your head should be suspended in the water where only the back of your head is barely dry, your neck is wrinkle free and your eyes are looking straight down to the bottom. You need to strain your head much more to keep it in the wrong position, so just relax it. There are many swimming drills and exercises you can do to practice this and below you will find a few to get your body in the right place.
1) Floating Tree Log
As a tree floats nicely straight in the water, so should you. Note, I said, IN the water, not ON the water. What I mean by this is that you should NOT strive to get as much of your body out of the water as possible. Instead, your goal should be to lay streamlined in the water, more than likely with a very small part of your body above the water, but this is fully individual. You might find yourself very slightly submerged
2) Extended Tree Log or Superman or both arm lead position
I do not like to call this exercise Superman as that is not what it is. Superman flies with his head looking where he is going and with arms at his side or one arm forward, but as you read above, this is NOT the way to do it. So, let's call it the extended tree log. Same as above, you can gently push off the wall or bottom of the swimming pool, but instead of your arms being at your side, you will extend them shoulder-width apart in front of your head. So you extend your tree log further. However, the important part is that your arms stay submerged in the water and a very slight angle towards the bottom of the pool. If the water surface is 0 degrees, then you can put them in -15 degree angle. Again, your eyes are looking straight down into the water, your neck is extended with no wrinkles and relaxed. You can perform this exercise in two sets. First 10 repetitions, extend your arms and leave them relaxed, add a slight travel kick if need to be. By travel kick I mean, kick very slowly, just to help with keeping some forward motion. The second set of 10, instead of your arms being just loosely in front of you, try to extend your arms out of your shoulders, so you get them 5-10 cm further. Remember, keep them at your shoulder width to simulate the position your arm is in when you swim (so you do not learn to cross over). If done properly, you will find that it is much easier to stay afloat in the Extended tree log floating position than in the regular Tree log drill and if you extend your arms out of your shoulders even further, floating has become even easier. The reason here is that you are adding more weight to the front of your body (muscles and bones weigh more), thus moving your center of gravity and center of buoyancy closer together and that is what you want to achieve to swim in a streamlined position.
|by Brother's Keeper Comic
NOTE: Dead man's float is actually performed on your stomach :)
As morbid as it sounds, this swimming drill is very good at learning to feel the positions of your body in the water and learn to streamline it. I have already described the logistics in tips for beginners post, but let me try it again. Start in a deep end of the pool, take a deep breath, put your face in the water and totally relax your arm and legs. The air in your lungs will keep your chest afloat, but your arms and legs will sink towards the bottom of the pool. When your body stopped moving and you are totally relaxed, start SLOWLY moving your straight arms to the same position as in the Extended Tree Log swimming drill described above. Remember, make sure the hands/arms do not break the surface of the water. Keep them under at about -15 degree angle (even -30 if that is easier for you). When your arms are in the Extended Tree Log swim position, then extend your arms out of your shoulders again, so you reach further. Note: your head is still relaxed looking at the bottom of the pool with no wrinkles in your neck. What you will notice here is that your legs will start slowly rising towards the surface of the water. How far will your legs raise? Well, this is fully dependent on your body composition. If you are all muscle, they will not rise to the surface, but if you have a bit fat which you should, the will rise up. You can then help to keep them there with a bit of a back muscle strength, but this takes a while to practice. If your legs are not rising, try to burrow your head and arms a bit deeper into the water and your legs should move up. Try this about 5x at the beginning of your swim workouts and when you think you got it, do it 1-3 times each time you swim, so it becomes a second nature to you.
Happy floating and remember, slower is better than faster until your streamline is perfect and you will be very satisfied with the results. After you have mastered these exercises, come back for the next swim lesson.


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China market: MP3-player price war heats up
Second-tier players are engaged in a price war in the MP3-player market in China.
Retail prices of 128MB models are down to 250 yuan (US$30) and 512MB models quoted below 1,000 yuan (US$121), local retail channels indicated.
According to China-based CCID (China Center of Information Industry Development) Consulting, demand for MP3 players in China has grow rapidly from 1.392 million units sold in 2003 to an estimated four million this year and 10 million in 2007. The fast growth has attracted hundreds of manufacturers, and currently there are several hundred MP3-player models on the market.
Currently, 128MB MP3 players have 50% of the market, but 256MB and 512MB models are expected to see their market shares increase as their retail prices drop along with a drop in flash-memory prices, local channel sources pointed out. In addition, MP3-player brands face competition from PDAs and handsets equipped with MP3-player functionality, the sources added.
From DigiTimes


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Arsenal keeper Lukasz Fabianski has revealed he has turned down a new deal and plans to leave the club this summer.
The 28-year-old's current contract runs out this summer and, with Polish compatriot Wojciech Szczesny firmly installed as Arsene Wenger's number one, he feels the time is right to leave.
Fabianski is keen to press his international claims, with Szczesny again standing in his way, and he feels the only way he can do that is to be a regular starter at club level.
He has only made four appearances for the Gunners so far this season, two apiece in the Capital One Cup and FA Cup.
"I want to be number one in the club and in the Polish national team. I have learned a lot at London during very positive and challenging periods," Fabianski is quoted as saying in the Daily Star.
- Neville: Liverpool a level above Man City
- Wolff opens up on his, and Hamilton's, F1 future
- Dias can be Guardiola's leader
- Liverpool 'machine' will be tough to stop
- Man Utd transfer rumours
- Klopp to Keane: Liverpool weren't sloppy!
- Carra: Liverpool have sent out a major message
- Beer sprayed on Muslim batsman; Essex promise education
- Milan interested in Man Utd's Dalot
- Beef: Being called a 'joke' affected me
"With biggest respect to this great club, I didn't accept the extension offer as I am looking forward to a new challenge in England or abroad."
I would like him (Sagna) to sign just now but I have to accept it. It is his freedom - the decision belongs to him.
He may not be the only major departure from the Emirates Stadium this summer with Bacary Sagna also out of contract and reportedly receiving interest from Chelsea and Manchester City as well as a host of European clubs.
Wenger admitted before the 5-1 defeat by Liverpool on Saturday that the right-back could leave for free in the summer, with his desire for a long-term extension and a pay rise making it tough to agree new terms.
"When I say I expect, it's more that I want (him to stay)," said Wenger. "I hope that in the end I am right. We are not close at the moment.
"He wants to keep his options open, because he is at the end of a contract. It is an important contract for him. He is 31 years old. I can understand.
"I'm not alright with that because I would like him to sign just now but I have to accept it. It is his freedom - the decision belongs to him.
"We are always in negotiations with him and we try always to be fair with him. I believe his future is here and any other decision would be wrong."


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AWI's core programs focus on human activities that directly affect animal welfare. AWI also works to educate the public and policymakers about consumer choices and other human activities that impact animal welfare in a host of indirect ways.
The following are a few of the areas in which AWI seeks to foster public policies and individual choices that result in reduced negative impacts on animal welfare.
"Free" Trade
The past several decades have seen the world become a smaller place in terms of human travel and interactions, especially trade between countries. Such trade can have enormous impacts on animals and their habitats. Animals suffer, however when governing bodies create trade policies that focus exclusively on reducing trade barriers, maximizing profits, and gaining commercial access to natural resources—to the exclusion of animal welfare and environmental impacts.
Human Overpopulation and Consumption
Dramatic growth in human population over the past century—coupled with more affluent lifestyles in the industrialized world—have fueled increased consumption of natural resources and more land used for human habitation and industry, the growing of crops, and the maintenance of domestic animals. This in turn has had enormous deleterious impacts on wild animals and their habitats.
Humane Education
AWI seeks to educate the public about actions we can take to benefit animals and our shared resources and habitats. AWI promotes humane education in schools, including the replacement of animal dissections with suitable alternatives and the incorporation into curricula of materials teaching respect for animals and a greater understanding of the natural world.


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From Croatan Earth First!
Livestream of the whole event: http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/26361300
Online Gallery of Pictures: http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/10/22/2430466/fracking-protestors-chain-themselves.html
Seven members of Croatan Earth First! and participants from our Piedmont Direct Action Camp locked together today, barricading the front of North Carolina's Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) building in downtown Raleigh. Providing physical, active resistance against fracking in North Carolina, CEF! has chosen DENR for an action as they are responsible for helping legalize fracking, and will be responsible for regulating it. They have also hired a corrupt Mining and Energy Commission board, which includes people with vested interests in hydraulic fracturing occurring. We are letting them know that this farce won't stand! No compromise in defense of Mother Earth!
In addition, a sizable demonstration is being held around the lock down, with several large banners, signs, literature, etc. Police actively cleared the site, and have closed off the road, labeling the entire block a crime scene. Press was being prevented from approaching the site. In negotiation made with the police, press was allowed inside to do interviews and take photos if the blockaders agreed to unlock later. The protesters decided to unlock as a tactical decision to walk away without arrests and save our legal funds.
Keep posted for more information and pictures as the day unfolds, and our tireless friends put their bodies on the line for the future of clean water and all species in our bioregion!
The full press release is below:
Monday October 22, 2012
Anti-Fracking Advocates Lock Down DENR Building in Civil Disobedience Action
Raleigh, NC – This morning multiple people locked themselves to the front of the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources headquarters at 217 W. Jones St. in protest of the state's continued path towards the legalization of hydraulic fracturing (or fracking) for natural gas. Environmentalists across the state have organized and campaigned against hydrofracking legislation for over a year, which resulted in a veto of SB 820 this past summer by Beverly Perdue. The legislature overrode the veto shortly after during a controversial vote in which a mistaken ballot was cast for legalization, and the voter was refused a recast.
"All legal channels of protest have been exhausted," says Earth First!er Emily Smith at the rally outside the action. "We've learned that the legislature and regulators will not protect the water we drink and air we breathe. It's time for the public to take other types of action to stop hydrofracking. " This past Spring NC DENR released a report that grossly underestimated the possible environmental risks of fracking. Since then, they have been working with the newly formed Mining and Energy Commission which includes several members that are closely linked to oil & gas: Ray Covington, a partner at NC Oil & Gas, who profits financially from an increase in leased lands for fracking; Chairman Jim Womack, a Lee County Commissioner and an oil industry supporter who claimed at a DENR public meeting that you were more likely to be hit by a meteor than have water contaminated by fracking; and Charles Holbrook a former employee of Chevron Oil.
"Having people who support and benefit from oil and gas extraction on a regulatory commission is like a fox guarding the hen house." The EPA recently released a study that confirmed contamination of the water aquifer in Pavillion, Wyoming with fracking fluids, but DENR has done nothing to modify their report. "We're not going to let industry destroy North Carolina like they have Pennsylvania," says Smith referring to the numerous spills that have occurred in the highly fracked Marcellus Shale—including 4,700 gallons of hydrochloric acid spilled this year in Bradford County and a 30-foot methane geyser which erupted in Tioga county, PA. A blowout at one of Chesapeake Energy's rigs in Wyoming this year burned escaping methane for several days and more than 70 residents had to be evacuated. "Fracking is not only contaminating our land and water irreversibly, but it's spewing massive amounts of methane, a greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere."
Today's action came about after The Piedmont Direct Action camp which occurred this past weekend in Pittsboro, NC and taught direct action skills to roughly 100 people. For more information see www.croatanearthfirst.com
Other Mainstream Coverage from Channel 5: http://www.wral.com/news/state/nccapitol/image/11687052/?ref_id=11687044


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You can follow my Tumblr here
6 January 2013
Ten from Tumblr #9
2 comments:
Thank you for taking the time to write a comment. It always makes my day.
I am not trying to be grumpy or rude, but please can you not put anything like "if you follow my blog, I will follow yours...or please check out my blog"
I do always try to have a look at your blog, if I like it yes I will follow it and maybe leave a comment. But otherwise I will not. Thank you!
I will always, write a reply within 24hrs. If it is a question or more in depth then you can either comment or if it is more in depth then you can always drop me an email (email@example.com) xx
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Last night we decided on the spur of the moment to head over to the Dakota Jazz Club and Restaurant in downtown Minneapolis for the first of Peter Asher's two nights at the club. Asher was one of the principals in the sixties British Invasion duo Peter and Gordon. His show is titled A Musical Memoir of the 60s and Beyond. The Star Tribune's Jon Bream previewed the show, calling Asher the Forrest Gump of rock. I think Al Kooper is the Forrest Gump of rock, but the appellation underestimates the talent that led to long and varied careers for both Asher and Kooper.
Asher's show recaps his career in a sort of VH1 Storytellers format while drawing on the resources of an excellent multimedia presentation displayed on monitors around the room. The presentation includes video clips of Asher's late partner, Gordon Waller, allowing for re-creation of several of the duo's hits with Peter and band performing live.
Asher generously recalls that Gordon had the looks, the voice, and the taste for rock that helped launch them as a team, but it was Paul McCartney who gave them their first hit, a worldwide number one: "World Without Love." McCartney was rooming across the hall from Asher on the third floor of the Asher family home at 57 Wimpole Street, the Asher family putting him up while Paul was dating Asher's sister Jane and the Beatles were in the first flush of their success in the United Kingdom.
The first half of the show covered the birth of Peter and Gordon from the time the two were high school students to the time they went their separate ways. After a brief intermission, Peter picks up the story with his hiring by the Beatles to head up A & R for Apple Records, in which capacity he signed James Taylor. Seeing the signs of disintegration at Apple, Asher left to manage Taylor's career and go into record production — a second career that brought him his two Grammy Awards.
Peter reunited with Gordon in 2005 at the request of Paul Shaffer for a benefit concert in New York. Seeing the effect of the performance on their old fans, Asher modestly recalls, he discovered that there was "nothing wrong" with revisiting the old songs. The show is a totally satisfying walk down memory lane performed with style and wit. Backed by a four-piece band, Asher himself is a generous and engaging performer. If you have the chance to catch tonight's show, I urge you to go. I predict you will thank me for sending you. (Jon Bream reviews the show here. We loved the show right through to the end. I would ask Asher not to change a thing.)
The Ashers' house on Wimpole Street loomed large in the show. Peter recalled that John Lennon came over one day to meet up with Paul. The two of them went down to the music room in the basement of the house for about an hour to work on a song. When they were done, they called Peter down to listen to it. The two of them sat on the piano bench to give Peter the first performance of "I Want To Hold Your Hand."
They asked him how he liked it. He recalls himself saying: "I thought it was very good."
We stayed around after the show to talk with our old friends John and Judy Borger. They enjoyed the show too. Asher graciously took a spot at a table in the back of the room to sign posters and discs for fans. I took the opportunity to get a picture with him. He stayed til the room emptied. I think he would have turned out the lights and locked the door if Dakota proprietor Lowell Pickett had asked.
The band members came out and talked to audience members as well. We told bass player Bill Cinque how much we enjoyed the show and asked where they were headed next. He said they weren't on a traditional tour; he wasn't sure what the next gig was. He did know that they were booked for five nights in May at Feinstein's in New York, a night or two at the RRazz Room in San Francisco, and at various Beatlefests possibly coming soon to a venue near you. Bill ran back to the dressing room to present us with a copy of The Amazing Adventures of a Marginally Successful Musician, his humorous memoir cum self-help book.
Bill talked about the Buddy Holly tribute show that Asher produced for PBS in connection with the tribute album recorded in honor of what would have been Holly's seventy-fifth birthday. (Asher also talks about it as part of the show. It is to be rebroadcast during the next PBS fundraising week.)
When Asher recruited Leland Sklar — "the world's best bass player," according to Bill — to play for the PBS show, he found a place for Bill by enlisting him to vocalize with the beautiful young backup singers. Bill suggested that those into pattern recognition would realize he didn't quite fit. "That's the kind of magnanimous man he is," Bill said, and I think that's the quality that shines through Asher's terrific show.
JOHN adds: Wow. What a great post! I'm sorry I missed the show. It seems weird to say that the British Invasion was underrated, but I actually think that could be true. "World Without Love" is a good example. Peter and Gordon have been mostly lost in the shuffle, I suppose, like a number of other British groups of that amazingly compact era, but "World Without Love" is a great popular song. Here it is, for those who haven't heard it, or would like to hear it again:
And, hey, while I'm at it: I liked "I Go To Pieces," too:


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Whalesong is a modern, environmentally friendly and multi-functional boat, providing tours out of Hervey Bay all year round.
Specialising in whale and dolphin watching, their cruises provide so much more with 'A Taste of Fraser Island' on their Fraser Island Beach + BBQ Cruise, or a great way to start your night or finish your day with their Hervey Bay Sunset Cruise. Small Passenger Numbers on this well-designed vessel provide ultimate viewing and seating space for all.
The freshest local produce is used with their catering, and they ensure high environmentally friendly practices are maintained. Whalesong is also a unique venue for Weddings, Parties, Christmas or Corporate Functions.
They can definitely design a fabulous cruise specific for your family or groups needs.
The perfect way to end your day or begin your evening.
Sunset/night time cruises take you into the spectacular pristine waterways between Fraser Island and the mainland to look out for their resident dolphins and turtles as well as enjoy the vibrant Sunset over Hervey Bay.
Their wide selection of hot and cold seafood and non seafood canapes are served to you on deck, so you don't miss any of the views (several items are included in the menu). One complimentary drink of your choice (including pre-mixed spirits) is provided and a good variety of economically priced drinks are available from their licensed bar.
The night continues as they show you the sparkle of the city lights along the 13 kilometres of the Beachfront that is The Charlton Esplanade. They cruise past Hervey Bay's monumental Pier and then admire the brilliant glow of the lights that make up the Harbour precinct.
Note: Information on listed products and services are provided by the operator and were correct at the time of publishing. Rates are indicative based on the minimum and maximum available prices of products and services. Please visit the operator's website for further information. All prices quoted are in Australian dollars (AUD).


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NOPD: Driver suffers 'possible medical condition,' drives into seafood shop
Man crashes into store about 10 a.m. in Mid-City
A man who may have suffered a medical condition crashed into a seafood store in Mid-City Friday morning, New Orleans police said.
Watch video | View images from the scene
According to a news release from the New Orleans Police Department, the accident happened about 10 a.m. near the intersection of Broad and Banks streets.
The 42-year-old man suffered a possible medical condition, police said, causing him to lose consciousness and crash into the front of the Broad and Banks Seafood Store.
No one inside the store was injured, police said.
The driver of the vehicle was taken to the hospital where he appeared to be in stable condition, the news release said.
The passenger of the vehicle, a 34-year-old man, complained of injuries and elected to go to the hospital as well.
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It would be presumptuous, though perhaps intuitive, to claim that the size of a country determines its influence on the rest of the world in today's hyperconnected, globalised world. In the past, geography and a country's demographics were essential to it's success, because labour intensive work like construction and agriculture depends on the quantity of resources a country possesses. However, today, taking into account modern trends such as globalisation, geographically small countries do indeed have the potential to become influential, and have a significant voice in world affairs. Not only can globalisation help to introduce small countries' culture ot the rest of thew world,an increased global interdependence between countries has encouraged small countries to develop a comparative advantage to gain a significant voice on international platforms. In addition, small countries can form coalitions to get their voices heard.
Critics would argue that the size of a country determines its ability to get its voice heard, because big countries have larger labour forces that give it powerful militaries and stronger economies. By extension, this gives it bigger spheres of influence over its neighbours, so its voice becomes more significant. On the other hand, however, smaller countries have found a way out of this problem — by finding a niche, and developing it into a comparative advantage, they can become influential countries with significant voices as well. In a globalised world where trade is the way in which countries get cheaper and better quality goods, many, especially small ones, specialise in a particular field so as to create a niche in it. This gives them the ability to trade on the larger international market, even becoming a market leader for the product sometimes. For example, the Ivory Coast is the world's largest exporter of cocoa beans, controlling about 40% of the world's supply, making it the leader of the industry. This is in spite of its small geographical size and political insignificance in the world. When so many countries around the world, especially developed ones, depend on it for cocoa beans, they have a vested interest in listening to the Ivory Coast on issues regarding their beans, and helping them in every way possible to increase crop yields to satisfy their demands. Evidently, small countries that are able to capitalise on their strengths to become market leaders do have significant voices, at least within the field they specialise in.
Some others also disagree with the significance of small countries' voices, for the reason that they lack the military might to reinforce their decisions. According to these groups, having a powerful military is essential to backing up their plans and proposals, or others with do possess military capabilities will override these smaller nations. This is a questionable claim which does not stand true given modern contexts. First, small nations can have strong militaries — in an age empowered by technology, the strength of one's military is determined not by quantity but by quality. Singapore is a good example — possessing many modern military technologies, such as Leopard Tanks and many fighter pilots, Singapore is more than capable of fighting off potential aggressors from the region. Further, the 21st Century has been marked more by its tendency towards diplomatic solutions, rather than fighting all out wars between nations. Countries like Costa Rica have even begun disbanding their armies. Hence, many small nations have decided to pool their resources together in order to force coalitions and alliances — doing this allows them to ensure their interests are heard, and acted upon. For instance, the formation of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) has helped smaller countries some degree of mediation to deal with territorial disputes with larger nations like China. Such regional or sometimes international organisations help earn geographically small nations a significant say in international issues — UN's rule of each country having one equal vote when deciding on resolutions aids small nations to become politically important and subsequently having a bigger say on international affairs. Essentially, forming blocs and coalitions can help smaller countries represent a general, shared interest that cannot be ignored by other larger nations when it comes to world issues.
In addition, some would also argue that small nations cannot have significant voices because they lack soft power that developed nations possess. They argue that due to the sheer size of larger nations' cultures, the rate of these cultures spreading is much greater than that of small nations. Without presenting their unique cultures to the rest of the world, they say that smaller nations will never possess significant voices. Despite this claim, the rise of social media and the effect of globalisation has aided the cross-border spread of cultures, even that of smaller nations. With the Internet, unique cultures can showcase themselves to the rest of the world through video channels like Youtube, through songs that they compose and through articles shared with others all around the world. This helps them spread their culture quickly, and individuals who are piqued by such unique cultures help to spread them further through word of mouth within their own communities. For instance, the Korean culture has of recent managed to obtain a worldwide audience that listens to and appreciates their music, films and art. This is in spite of their small size, relative to superpowers like the United States, China or Russia. Clearly, the process of globalisation has aided cultures' spread around the world, allowing them to be increasingly on par in terms of demand with larger, supposedly more powerful nations.
Ultimately, in the modern world full of new trends like globalisations and the shift towards diplomacy away from war and conflict, it has become increasingly possible for small nations to have a significant voice. They now have a variety of options to do so — be it on the political, economic or cultural field, small nations can now find larger audiences to which they can appeal to, to ensure that their interests are heard by larger nations, instead of being bullied as they were in times past. Therefore, small nations can indeed have a significant voice in world affairs.


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Tax fairness would increase growth
Get ready for the tax wars.
President Obama wants to raise taxes on the rich, setting a minimum tax rate of 30 percent on millionaires (the so-called Buffett Rule, named after billionaire investor Warren Buffett, who says it's unfair that he pays a lower tax rate than his secretary).
Mitt Romney, the presumed Republican presidential candidate, wants to lower taxes on the rich. He supports the House Republicans' plan to cut the highest tax rate from 35 percent to 25 percent, thereby reducing the taxes of millionaires by an average of at least $150,000 a year.
This should be a no-brainer. Rich Americans are taking home a larger share of America's total income than they have at any time since the 1920s, yet paying the lowest tax rate in more than 30 years.
Meanwhile, the nation faces two giant deficits. Unless the rich pay their fair share of taxes, both will only become worse.
The first is a deficit in public investment. Our roads, bridges, ports, sewer and water systems, and public transportation systems are outmoded. Some are literally falling apart. Meanwhile, many of our schools can't afford textbooks or science labs, students are crowded into classrooms with 30 or more other children, and public colleges and universities are starved for funding.
The other is a budget deficit that's projected to rise into the stratosphere, especially as aging Baby Boomers need more health care.
Surely government can be more efficient, the military can be smaller, and pork-barrel spending can be eliminated. But anyone who thinks we can balance the budget without additional revenue doesn't know basic math.
So how can conservatives possibly object to raising taxes on the wealthy?
Easily. I recently debated a conservative economist who claimed people at the top are the entrepreneurs and job creators, as if he were stating a well-accepted economic principle: "If we raise their taxes, we'll have fewer jobs and slower growth."
One of the most pernicious falsehoods you'll hear during the next seven months of political campaigning is that there's a necessary trade-off between fairness and growth.
Our history suggests the opposite. Taxes were far higher on top incomes in the three decades after World War II than they've been since. The top marginal rate was over 70 percent. Even after deductions and credits, rich Americans paid an effective tax rate of over 50 percent.
And the distribution of income was far more equal than it has been since.
Yet the American economy grew faster in those years than it's grown since Ronald Reagan slashed tax rates on top earners in 1981.
This wasn't a postwar aberration. Bill Clinton raised taxes on the wealthy in the 1990s, and the economy produced faster job growth and higher wages than it did after George W. Bush cut taxes on the rich in his first term.
If you need more evidence, consider modern Germany, where taxes on the wealthy are much higher than they are here and the distribution of income is far more equal. Yet Germany's average annual growth has been faster than that in the United States.
Higher taxes on the wealthy help finance investments in infrastructure and education, which are vital for growth and the economic prospects of the middle class.
In the decades after World War II, we built an interstate highway system and expanded public colleges and universities, and the nation's productivity surged.
Higher taxes on the wealthy can also allow for lower taxes on the middle - potentially fueling enough middle-class purchasing power to keep the economy growing. As we've seen in recent years, when disposable income is concentrated at the top, the middle class doesn't have enough money to boost the economy.
Finally, concentrated wealth can lead to speculative bubbles, as the rich invest in the same limited class of assets - whether gold, dot-coms or real estate. When these bubbles pop, the entire economy suffers.
What we should have learned over the last half century is that growth doesn't trickle down from the top. It percolates upward from working people who are adequately educated and sufficiently rewarded and who feel they have a fair chance to make it in America.
If anything, the Buffett Rule doesn't go nearly far enough. We should restore tax rates to what they were before 1981, and make the capital-gains rate the same as the rate on ordinary income. There's no good reason why Romney should pay a rate of less than 14 percent on an income of more than $20 million.
Fairness isn't incompatible with economic growth. It's essential to it.
© 2012 Robert Reich Robert Reich, former U.S. secretary of labor, is professor of public policy at UC Berkeley and the author of "Aftershock: The Next Economy and America's Future." He blogs at www.robertreich.org. To comment, go to sfgate.com/chronicle/submissions/#1.


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Two upper Keys boys were arrested over the weekend after one of them molested a 14 year old girl and the other video recorded it, police say.
Deputies responded to a home on Ocean Drive Sunday morning after a woman called to report strangers in the lower portion of her house. When they arrived, found the two males – aged 23 and 16 – and the victim, a 14-year-old girl.
All three appeared to be drunk, investigators say. The oldestsaid they had been partying the night before, but said he could not remember what happened. Further investigation revealed the three to be acquaintances of the owner's 15-year-old daughter. The daughter later admitted to having a party in the lower portion of the house the night before without her mother's knowledge.
Deputies asked to see the 23-year-old's cell phone. The man agreed, but said someone else had his phone for a time the night before.
On the phone, the deputy found a video recording of another boy top of the victim, who was only partially clothed. In the video he was performing sexual acts on her, police said.
Detectives responded to the scene to continue the investigation. They interviewed the victim, who could not recall the incident depicted in the video. She watched the video and identified the male on top of her in the video as a 17-year-old with whom she has been in a sexual relationship for a few weeks. She also identified the one video recording the incident as a 15-year-old who had also attended the party.
The 17-year-old denied having sexual relations with the victim, even though he was depicted clearly in the video fondling her. The 15-year-old denied video recording the incident, even though portions of the video confirmed he was the one behind the camera. Witnesses corroborated the victim's version of events.
The 17-year-old was charged with lewd and lascivious battery on a 14-year-old girl. The 15-year-old was charged with sexual performance with a child for video recording the sexual activity.


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When the Angels sift through the wreckage of their season in six weeks, their inability to beat the major leagues' worst team consistently at home is certain to be one of their most embarrassing discoveries.
Matt Dominguez hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the seventh inning, and the Houston Astros beat the Angels 7-5 on Sunday for their seventh win in 10 games at Angel Stadium this year.
Josh Hamilton homered and tripled for the Angels but couldn't stop another loss to the Astros, who have beaten the Angels for nine of their 41 wins.
"It's frustrating losing to anybody," said Hamilton, who hit his 19th homer. "It doesn't matter who it is. If it was the Yankees in here today or the Rangers, it would be just as frustrating.
"It's one of those things where you're playing a team with that kind of a record, but you don't want to relax or take anything for granted.
"I'm not saying that we're doing that, but some years, some teams have your number. That's how it goes."
One last humiliating home loss to the Astros nearly turned out to be even worse. Mike Trout had two hits for the Angels before leaving in the sixth inning with right hamstring tightness.
The All-Star outfielder doesn't believe his injury is serious, but it's just another worry for the Angels, who have lost 11 of 16 and 23 of 34.
"It's all right. I'm just sore," said Trout, second in the league at with a .333 average. "It's not like it popped or anything.
"It was just a little grabbing, so it shouldn't be too serious. I'll see how it is tomorrow.
"I came out just because I didn't want it to get worse. It's definitely frustrating when you can't be out there. For me as a speed guy, I've got to take care of my legs."
Trout went 2 for 3 with a third-inning double but left the game after flying out in the fifth.
He reached base for the 40th consecutive game and extended the majors' longest current streak.


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I can't always articulate what it is like to be a worker, writhing in muted panic in the net of late capitalism. But I have found a fine outlet in Business Fish, a surreal family of sticker sets on Facebook Messenger, which I use to illustrate many of my exchanges.
Business Fish has struck a nerve since his introduction last year: he has many vocal fans (3200+ on his Facebook page) and he's been profiled in the mainstream news. Inspired by the Shinto belief that divinity resides in animals, his creator—an artist at Tokyo-based studio Quan, Inc.—gave him a pink fish head capping a human body in a boxy blue suit that, in today's workplace fashion parlance, reads as "male business casual."
At first glance, Business Fish seems like a composite of Gordon Gekko and Jordan Belfort, ruthless hunters of success, profit and glamor. Closer examination of his sixteen, hyper-expressive graphics reveals a more complex narrative.
He wakes in shock, sweaty, the sun at his head. He gets caught in a subway turnstile. He struggles, briefcase in hand, coughing and shaking, knees buckling. After a setback, he slumps in shame against a wall. He bows, and weeps, and clenches his fists in rage. He grovels on the ground, possibly begging for the privilege of working another day.
Created with Japanese office culture in mind, but meant to represent workers worldwide, Business Fish is a pressure-crushed employee, shot through with anxiety and anguish. If strong emotions, particularly dysphoric ones, are "the psychic fuel on which capitalist society runs," Business Fish is a resource burning at both ends.


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If all goes as planned, a long-anticipated ceremony will be held in Fort Worth, Texas on the first official day of summer. It's to mark the nation of Turkey taking possession of its first F-35 jet fighter.
The F-35 is widely considered the world's most advanced and versatile warplane. Not only has Turkey ordered more than 100 of them - it's also part of a nine-nation consortium manufacturing the 300,000 parts that make up Lockheed Martin's 5th-generation stealth fighter.
But there may be a problem. Congress is moving to block delivery of the F-35 to this nation that's been part of the NATO alliance since 1952. And it could be many months before Turkey's first F-35A would be ready to cross the Atlantic, because Turkish pilots have yet to begin their training at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona to fly it.
The Senate has led opposition to the deal.
"On its surface, because they're a NATO ally, I don't object to it," North Carolina Republican Thom Tillis declared this week on the Senate floor. "But today, I strongly object to it."
Tillis accuses Turkey of holding a Presbyterian minister from North Carolina hostage for the past year and a half. He says Pastor Andrew Brunson, whom he visited in jail two months ago, is being held on "bogus" charges to pressure the U.S. to extradite Fetullah Gulen.
Turkish authorities say Gulen, a Pennsylvania-based Turkish preacher and political leader, was behind a failed attempt two years ago to overthrow Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
There are national security concerns as well about turning over F-35s to Turkey.
"The Turkish government claims to have purchased a Russian air defense system designed to shoot these very planes down," New Hampshire Democrat Jeanne Shaheen declared as she joined Tillis in the Senate chamber. "NATO partners need these F-35s to counter Russian activity. We would be handing this technology over to the Kremlin if we granted Turkey these planes, and Congress will not stand for it."
NATO ally looks to Russia for an anti-aircraft system
Late last year, Turkish Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli announced that Turkey had ordered the Russian-made Triumf S-400 air defense system, whose eight launchers and 32 missiles can target both stealth warplanes and missiles within a radius of 372 miles. The missile system is not inter-operable with NATO's air defenses.
More worrisome, Russia and Turkey could together use it to run tests to reveal vulnerabilities in the F-35.
"If the Russians want by electronic means or even through their technicians to get access to all this F-35 stuff that's highly classified, that's a problem," says James Jeffrey, a former U.S. ambassador to Turkey.
Senators Shaheen and Tillis have co-authored, along with Oklahoma Republican James Lankford, legislation that orders the Pentagon to come up with a plan that would keep the F-35 out of Turkey's hands. It's part of the much larger National Defense Authorization Act that the Senate is set to vote on just days before the Fort Worth handover ceremony.
The Trump administration has also signaled its concern.
"It is still very much a live issue, the Turks' capacity to have access to the F-35," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Congress late last month.
That was followed by a more specific warning last week from Wess Mitchell, who's the State Department's assistant secretary for European and Eurasian affairs and its point man on Turkey.
"They should expect that if they move forward with a sophisticated Russian weapons platform, they can expect to see it have a ripple effect for their participation in U.S. military industrial projects," Mitchell said at the Heritage Foundation, "and I think that includes the F-35."
The same day that the senators spoke out against the Turkish warplane deal, which includes that nation hosting a maintenance center for F-35s worldwide, a senior Pentagon official struck a more conciliatory tone in an appearance at the Atlantic Council, a NATO-focused Washington think tank.
"Our preference is that they do not acquire the S-400," said Assistant Secretary of Defense for Europe and NATO Thomas Goffus. "Given that, they are a sovereign nation and they are trying to take care of their defense needs."
Dispute threatens to disrupt NATO alliance
According to Washington-based Nilsu Goren, who studies Turkey's military, Turkey turned to Russia after concluding that the U.S., and the U.S. Congress in particular, would not provide the Patriot air defense system made by Raytheon that Ankara wants to defend its southern border.
"From their perspective, the U.S. has denied them the technology and access to its security assets at the times that Turkey needed them the most," Goren tells NPR. "Turkey sees no contradiction in purchasing a Russian air and missile defense system while continuing to work with its NATO partners."
Oklahoma's Lankford disagrees. "If Turkey is not going to end up cooperating with NATO," he tells NPR, "there's no reason to have a NATO base there."
But former U.S. ambassador Jeffrey says losing Turkey as part of NATO would be a huge blow to the alliance.
"You can do nothing in the Levant, nothing against Iran or very little, nothing in the Caucuses, nothing in the Black Sea without Turkey's geographic space, its bases and its military force, which is the second largest in NATO," says Jeffrey, who's now at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. "I mean, it's extremely important."
Jeffrey says it is unlikely Erdogan will make any concessions to the U.S. until after Turkey's June 24 national elections, given what he says is the longstanding unpopularity of the U.S. among Turks. "It's a little bit tricky for the Turks to respond to this," he adds.
It's bound to be a conundrum for the U.S. as well.
A week from today, Turkey is supposed to receive its first F-35 jet fighter at a ceremony in Texas. The F-35 is considered the world's most advanced and versatile warplane. Turkey has ordered more than a hundred of them. It also makes key parts for the Lockheed Martin stealth fighter. But there appears to be a problem. Congress is moving to block delivery of the F-35 to this key NATO ally. NPR's David Welna reports.
DAVID WELNA, BYLINE: For Turkey, getting its first F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jet would mean having a warplane many other nations want but few possess.
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: The F-35 brings a generational leap in technology that will ensure the war fighter survives in today's world as well as tomorrow's.
WELNA: That's from a Lockheed Martin promotional video. Turkey has already paid for some of its F-35s at $90 million apiece. Yesterday on the Senate floor, North Carolina Republican Thom Tillis referred to the arms deal with Turkey.
THOM TILLIS: On its surface, because they're a NATO ally, I don't object to it. But today, I strongly object to it.
WELNA: That's in part because of a Presbyterian minister from Tillis' North Carolina who's been in prison in Turkey for nearly a year and a half. Tillis considers him a political hostage being held to pressure the U.S. to extradite Fethullah Gulen, a Turkish preacher and political leader who Turkish authorities say was behind a failed coup attempt two years ago. New Hampshire Senate Democrat Jeanne Shaheen joined Tillis to cite another big reason for blocking the deal.
JEANNE SHAHEEN: The Turkish government claims to have purchased a Russian air defense system designed to shoot these very planes down. NATO partners need these F-35s to counter Russian activity. We would be handing this technology over to the Kremlin if we granted Turkey these planes, and Congress will not stand for it.
WELNA: Shaheen and Tillis inserted language in a big defense bill being voted on next week that orders the Pentagon to come up with a plan to keep the planes out of Turkey's hands. Late last month, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Congress the Trump administration is concerned as well.
MIKE POMPEO: It is still very much a live issue - the Turks' capacity to have access to the F-35.
WELNA: A more specific warning came last week from Wess Mitchell, the State Department's point man on Turkey.
WESS MITCHELL: They should expect that if they move forward with a sophisticated Russian weapons platform, they can expect to see it have a ripple effect for their participation in U.S. military industrial projects, and I think that includes F-35.
WELNA: The Pentagon's been somewhat less outspoken about Turkey's plans to buy the Russian air defense system known as the S-400. Thomas Goffus is a top Pentagon policy official. Here he is yesterday at the Atlantic Council.
THOMAS GOFFUS: Our preference is that they do not acquire the S-400. Given that, they are a sovereign nation, and they are trying to take care of their defense needs.
WELNA: Turkey insists its done nothing wrong. Nilsu Goren is a Washington-based expert on Turkey's military.
NILSU GOREN: Turkey sees no contradiction in purchasing a Russian air and missile defense system while continuing to work with its NATO partners.
WELNA: But Oklahoma Republican Senator James Lankford says Turkey's 66-year membership in NATO may be on the line.
JAMES LANKFORD: If Turkey is not going to end up cooperating with NATO, there's no reason to have a NATO base there.
WELNA: In fact, for NATO, Turkey's membership is crucial, says former U.S. ambassador to Turkey James Jeffrey.
JAMES JEFFREY: You can do nothing in the Levant, nothing against Iran or very little, nothing in the Caucasus, nothing in the Black Sea without Turkey's geographic space and its bases and its military force, which is the second-largest NATO. I mean, it's extremely important.
WELNA: Jeffrey thinks once Turkey gets past nationwide elections 10 days from now, its leaders may be more willing to patch things up with the U.S. David Welna, NPR News, Washington. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


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They are all super smart people in the industry and have heaps of great information and insights to share. Like lots of industry people, however, blogging doesn't necessarily come easily to all of them.
As part of the support I have drawn up a cool 'Blog Writing Blueprint' (a step-by-step guide which I will share here in the future) and developed a list of 44 blog ideas. I have also set up a 'Bloggers Anonymous' blog that kind of acts as a place for myself and Brenda Somich, the other Online Community Manager at the Institute, to share ideas and thoughts to help our bloggers.
One thing I have recently done is to go out to some of my favourite bloggers and marketing industry contacts and asked them to shoot a short video giving their top blogging tip or two.
A big thanks to @nathbush @juliancole @scott_drummond @leehopkins @joshstraw84 @zacmartin @jymmysim and @brendasomich
Enjoy and feel free leave comment and add your own blog tip that these guys forgot ;)


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A collection of scholarly works about individual liberty and free markets. A project of Liberty Fund, Inc.
The English Works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury; Now First Collected and Edited by Sir William Molesworth, Bart., (London: Bohn, 1839-45). 11 vols. https://oll.libertyfund.org/titles/1738,
An 11 volume collection of the English works of Thomas Hobbes which includes his best known work of philosophy and history as well as his notable translations of Thucydides and Homer.
The text is in the public domain.
This material is put online to further the educational goals of Liberty Fund, Inc. Unless otherwise stated in the Copyright Information section above, this material may be used freely for educational and academic purposes. It may not be used in any way for profit.


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All About Acne
Hardly anyone escapes their teen years without having at least some acne, and some people continue to have breakouts into adulthood.
We've all been there: the morning of a big date or important meeting, you look in the mirror to discover a major breakout. Whether it's just one pimple or a cluster, acne is one common problem that has several solutions.
What Is Acne?
Acne, or acne vulgaris, occurs when glands in the skin produce and secrete too much of the skin's natural oil, called sebum. Sebum clogs pores in the skin, resulting in a pimple — or, worse, several pimples. Bacteria in the sebum can cause inflammation and worsen the acne.
A pimple or acne breakout can pop up anywhere, but usually strikes the face. Other common areas for acne breakouts include the neck, shoulders, chest, and back.
Acne is a very common problem — actually, it's the most common skin condition affecting people in the United States. As many as 50 million Americans live with acne, and most of them are in their teen or young adult years. Although anyone can get acne — boys, girls, men, and women — at any age or stage of life, it's most common in teens. About 85 percent of teenagers will eventually get acne.
Causes of Acne
Acne can be caused or exacerbated by a number of different things, including:
- Changes in hormone levels (such as during puberty or menstruation)
- Cosmetics or hair or skin products
- Having a family history of acne
- Some medications
- Something rubbing on the skin (like a hat or helmet)
- Vigorous scrubbing of the skin
- Stress
Acne Treatment and Prevention
There are several different acne treatment options, and which one is best for you depends on how severe your acne is. A good skin care regimen is often the first line of defense for mild acne or the occasional pimple — that means washing your face no more than twice a day (but always after sweating) with a gentle cleanser and lukewarm water.
Sometimes, more treatment is needed to keep skin healthy. To clear up or prevent an acne breakout, you can try:
- Over-the-counter medicated cleansers, lotions, creams, gels, face pads, and morePrescription-strength topical ointments, creams, lotions, and other acne treatments
- Oral prescription treatments, including antibiotics or oral contraceptives for women
- Isotretinoin (Sotret, Claravis, Amnesteem, Accutane, and others), a pill prescribed to manage very severe acne
- Injections of a corticosteroid
- Laser treatments, including blue light therapy, pulsed light and heat energy therapy and diode laser treatment.
If you have acne, you will probably have to treat it for for a long period of time — not just during an acne breakout. Work with a dermatologist to determine the most appropriate treatment for your acne, and how long you should follow the treatment regimen. It's important not to stop acne treatment before your doctor says it's okay — otherwise, you run the risk of having another acne breakout just when your skin starts to clear.
Without treatment, you may experience persistent acne breakouts and scarring of the skin, as well as anxiety and low self-esteem. Often, acne will clear up after you're out of the teen years, but even some adults struggle with acne and problem skin and need treatment for it.
You don't have to deal with persistent acne — nor should you. Try over-the-counter treatments and healthy habits to help clear up problem skin, or for more severe acne see a dermatologist for prescription-strength treatments.


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Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.
- Yield
- Makes 4 rolled sandwiches
- 1/2 cup rinsed drained canned black beans
- 1 large vine-ripened tomato, seeded and chopped
- 2 pickled jalapeños, seeded and chopped(wear rubber gloves)
- 4 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 ripe California avocado
- 2 tablespoons low-fat plain yogurt
- four 10-inch whole-wheat tortillas
- 1/2 pound thinly sliced roast turkey breast
- 1 cup packed fresh coriander sprigs, washed well, spun dry, and chopped coarse
- In a bowl stir together black beans, tomato, jalapeños, 2 teaspoon lime juice, chili powder, and salt to taste.
- In a food processor purée avocado, yogurt, remaining 2 teaspoons lime juice, and salt to taste. (Alternatively, with a fork mash avocado mixture until smooth.)
- Spread avocado mixture evenly on tortillas and arrange turkey across each tortilla just below middle. Top turkey with salsa and coriander and roll up tortillas tightly, leaving ends open. Halve tortillas diagonally with a serrated knife.
Each serving about 297 calories and 10 grams fat (30% of calories from fat)


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Antitrust Case Filings
Antitrust Case Filings
To filter the list of cases, select desired options from the left navigation pane.
View the list of NAICS and SIC industry codes used by the Division. To view all industry codes, visit Census.gov.
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1
|Case Open Date
|Incident Date
|Case Type
|Federal Court
|Industry Code
|U.S. v. Maine Lobstermen's Association and Leslie Dyer
|October 15, 1957
|Civil Non-Merger
|Maine, District of
|Fish and Seafoods, Shellfish Fishing


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Images Powered by Leonardo
June-September temperatures frequently reach (and exceed) 85 F/30 C, and despite the warning about precipitation, summer is usually hot and sunny. Winter temperatures tend to stay just above freezing, but there are some bitterly cold, windy days. Spring and fall temperatures range 50-60 F/10-15 C, with especially fine days reaching up to 65-70 F/18-20 C.
Ad unit code goes here
Here is an example


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The Rutles 2: Can't Buy Me Lunch is a modern re-telling of the 1978 mockumentary All You Need is Cash, in a modern setting.
Twenty three years after the original, documentarist Melvin Hall (Eric Idle) interviews mainstream artists, actors, and musicians about the days of the popular band The Rutles, though mostly ending up in the wrong country. The film ends with Melvin and the interviewees laughing.
In the interviews with David Bowie, he is seen holding a copy of the vinyl album The Rutles 1, calling it a "piece of marketing extravagance". The interview in the film shows the cover of the album with a black circle that has the words "27 No. 1 Songs On One LP". In the DVD extras, the circle on the album cover says "27 No. 1 Songs On 1 CD", even though this is a vinyl record album. Either way, this was the only time that a Rutles album was practically identical to a Beatles album in both album cover and title.
The plot remains the same to its 1978 counterpart, with a new introduction and conclusion with Idle's character, Melvin Hall.
* Eric Idle as Narrator / Dirk McQuickly / Lady Beth Mouse-Peddler
* Neil Innes as Ron Nasty
* Ricky Fataar as Stig O'Hara
* John Halsey as Barry Wom
* David Bowie as Himself - Interviewee
* Billy Connolly as Interviewee
* Carrie Fisher as Interviewee
* Jewel Kilcher as Interviewee (as Jewel)
* Steve Martin as Interviewee
* Mike Nichols as Interviewee
* Conan O'Brien as Interviewee
* Salman Rushdie as Interviewee
* Garry Shandling as Interviewee
* Robin Williams as Hans Hänkie
* April Adams as Groupie Interviewee (scenes deleted)
* Clint Black as Interviewee
* Jimmy Fallon as Reporter
* Tom Hanks as Interviewee
* Bill Murray as Bill Murray "The K" (archive footage)
* Graham Nash as Interviewee
* Kevin Nealon as Kevin Wongle
* Catherine O'Hara as Astro Glide
* Jim Piddock as Troy Nixon
* Bonnie Raitt as Interviewee
* David A. Stewart as Interviewee
* James Taylor as Interviewee
* Jann Wenner as Interviewee
The film was made by Eric Idle in 2002, but was shelved and released later. It is available in the United States, but is unavailable in the United Kingdom despite requests for a Region 2 DVD release.
The Rutles 2: Can't Buy Me Lunch received mostly negative reviews. Some critics argue it was basically a retelling installment to modern audiences. There were no new interviews with the Rutles; Rutle footage consisted of outtakes and unused film produced for the original 1978 documentary. Why Idle did not contact Fataar, Halsey and Innes for new interviews is unknown.
However, songs from The Rutles Archaeology were utilized.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Thursday, June 16, 2011
The Fut - Have You Heard the Word
A song placed on a few early bootlegs purporting to be the Beatles. Lennon later said it was a good imitation, obviously riffing on a line from the Beatles' song "The Word." More on the actual musicians and songwriter can be found here.
Posted by - at 4:43 AM 0 comments
Labels: audio
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
The Beatles Live in Munich, Germany (1966)
Color concert footage from Circus-Krone-Bau, Munich, Germany, June 24, 1966.
Posted by - at 4:35 AM 3 comments
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Monday, June 13, 2011
The Beatles Live at the Cow Palace, San Francisco (1964)
Silent footage with audio taken from the Hollywood Bowl concert, August 23, 1964.
Posted by - at 4:29 AM 0 comments
Sunday, June 12, 2011
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